Hometown Hungers: Minneapolis Juicy Lucy

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There are few things better than a cheeseburger, but in Minneapolis, the Juicy Lucy (or Jucy Lucy, depending on whom you ask) ups the cheesy, meaty ante.

Essentially a cheeseburger turned inside out, the dish is traditionally made by layering slices of American or cheddar cheese between two beef patties before they’re griddled. The resulting burger is bursting with molten cheese in nearly every bite.

Devoted Midwestern fans are strongly divided about where to score this stuffed burger — or even who first came up with the clever creation.

Two neighborhood joints that are practically a bun’s throw away from each other claim to have invented the Minneapolis staple:
Matt’s Bar offers the Jucy Lucy, while the
5-8 Club has the Juicy Lucy. The dish has been around since at least the 1950s, but the battle for bragging rights rages on today.

If you want to experience the Juicy Lucy but can’t make it to Minneapolis, check out
Food Network’s gallery of top joints around the country that are slinging their own takes on this cheese-stuffed package of perfection.